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Resource Library

*Most resources offered here apply to Southern California gardens and may not be appropriate for other locations. 

Garden Education

  1. UCANR Garden Web Searchable Database: https://ucanr.edu/sites/gardenweb/
  2. Tree of Life Nursery: https://californianativeplants.com/education/beginner-blogs/
  3. Theodore Payne: https://theodorepayne.org/learn/blog/ 
  4. California Native Plant Society (Calscape): https://calscape.org/
  5. This website offers educational resources, ID, garden planning resources
  6. Gardening in LA Blog & Newsletter (by Yvonne Savio: Los Angeles-based gardener🙂 https://www.gardeninginla.net/ 
  7. UC Master Gardener Program: https://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/Sustainable_Home_Gardening/Monthly_Garden_Tips/ 
  8. Organic Farming Research Foundation: https://ofrf.org/ 

Tree Selection

  1. SelectATree – Cal Poly Tree Selection Guide: https://selectree.calpoly.edu/search-trees-by-characteristics/
  2. Oaktopia – Join Dave Muffly in his efforts to find and plant resilient trees that will combat climate change for California, and the rest of the world… https://www.oaktopia.org/

Pest Management

  1. UC IPM: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/index.html 
  2. Weed Management: ​​https://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/Integrated_Pest_Management/Weeds/ 
  3. Natural Environment Pests: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/NATURAL/index.html 
  4. Pest Notes: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/menu.homegarden.html 
  5. Solarization Guide:​​ https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74145.html 

CA Native Nurseries

  1. Palos Verdes Land Conservancy https://pvplc.org/plant-sales/ 
  2. Tree of Life; San Juan Capistrano https://californianativeplants.com/ 
  3. Theodore Payne; Sun Valley https://theodorepayne.org/plants-and-seeds/nursery/retail-nursery/ 
  4. Plant Material; Los Angeles https://plant-material.com/ 
  5. Artemisia Nursery; Los Angeles: https://www.artemisianursery.com/ 
  6. Hahamonga Nursery – Local Los Angeles Nursery with wonderful selection of hyperlocal plants

Edible Starts

  1. Artemesia Nursery; Los Angeles: https://www.artemisianursery.com/ 
  2. Lincoln Ave Nursery; Pasadena: https://lincolnavenuenursery.com/ 
  3. Fig Earth Supply; Los Angeles: https://www.figearthsupply.com/ 

Composting

  1. LA Compost: https://www.lacompost.org/resources 

Irrigation and Water Savings:

Hunter Dripline Calculator – Helpful tool to evaluate how long to run your system.

California Dept. of Water Resources Guide for Water Efficient Landscaping


Beneficial Bugs and Pollinators

  1. Beneficial Bugs and Pollinators: https://plant-material.com/pages/beneficial-bug-guide 
  2. Monarchs: https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/19-002_03_Western%20monarchs%20are%20in%20trouble_this%20is%20how%20you%20can%20help%202021_web.pdf 
  3. Bees and Pollination: https://ucanr.edu/sites/Bees_and_Pollination/ 
  4. Plants to Attract Birds: https://www.audubon.org/native-plants 
  5. Certified Wildlife Habitat Cerfication: https://www.nwf.org/CertifiedWildlifeHabitat/certify?source=WH18FSC 
  6. Selecting Plants for Pollinators: https://pollinator.org/PDFs/Guides/CalifCoastalWoodlandrx4FINAL.pdf 
  7. Home Grown National Park – Great resource to learn more about creating habitat starting in your yard!! 

Soil Testing

  1. UMass Labs: https://ag.umass.edu/services/soil-plant-nutrient-testing-laboratory/lab-services 
  2. Wallace Laboratories (El Segundo): https://wlabs.com/

Water-Wise Gardening

  1. https://www.bewaterwise.com/ 
  2. WaterWaterwise Garden Planner: https://waterwisegardenplanner.org/plant-finder/

Food Gardening

  1. No-Till Food Gardening: https://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/Food_Gardening/Additional_KG_Articles/No-Till_Food_Gardening/ 

Pruning

  1. Farmer’s Almanac https://www.almanac.com/pruning-101-guide-pruning-trees-and-shrubs
  2. All about Espalier: Garden Therapy 

https://gardentherapy.ca/espalier-fruit-trees/

  1. Empress of Dirt:


Pruning Tips for New Gardeners (Trees, Shrubs, and Vines)



Ecology and Interesting Reads, Books, and Podcasts

**check back as we will be frequently adding to this list!**

Cayote and Thunder Website: Thought-provoking essays, links to Place and Purpose Podcast and more resources from Naturalist, Artist and Philosopher Obi Kaufman https://coyoteandthunder.com/

Golden State Naturalist – Wonderful podcast with an abundance of thought-provoking topics related to California Ecology and Natural Spaces https://www.goldenstatenaturalist.com/